Shloka 24
सीताया रावणनिन्दा — अशोकवनिकाप्रवेशः
Sita’s Rebuke of Ravana; Removal to the Ashoka Grove
शृणु मैथिलि मद्वाक्यं मासान्द्वादश भामिनि।।।।कालेनानेन नाभ्येषि यदि मां चारुहासिनि।ततस्त्वां प्रातराशार्थं सूदाश्छेत्स्यन्ति लेशशः।।।।
śṛṇu maithili madvākyaṃ māsān dvādaśa bhāmini |
kālenānena nābhyēṣi yadi māṃ cāruhāsini |
tatas tvāṃ prātarāśārthaṃ sūdāś chetsyanti leśaśaḥ ||
“Dengarlah kata-kataku, wahai Maithilī, wanita jelita. Dalam dua belas bulan ini, jika engkau tidak datang menerima aku, wahai yang manis senyumannya, maka para tukang masakku akan mencincangmu halus-halus untuk santapan pagiku.”
O comely princess from Mithila, O lady with a sweet smile! listen to my words. If you do not accept my hand in the course of twelve months, the cooks will cut you off into small bits for the (my) breakfast.
FAQs
The verse illustrates adharma by example: forcing consent through fear and violence is a direct violation of righteousness and truth; dharma rejects coercion and cruelty.
Rāvaṇa, angered by Sītā’s refusal, issues a deadline and threatens brutal harm to compel her submission.
By contrast, Sītā’s chastity and steadfast loyalty to Rāma stand out, since only extreme threats are used against her unwavering commitment.